Senna alata
Content
Description
Shrub 1 — 2( — 5) m; branches thick, pubescent.
Leaves with 8-20 pairs of leaflets; petiole robust, 2-3 cm; rachis 30-60 cm.
Stipules auriculate-deltoid, 6 — 10( — 15) mm, persistent, brownish red.
Sepals orange-yellow, oblong, unequal, 10-20 by 6-7 mm.
Petals bright yellow, ovate-orbicular, 16-24 by 10-15 mm, short- clawed.
Stamens: 2 large with stout filaments, 4 mm long and anthers 12-13 mm opening with apical pores; 4 with filaments 2 mm long and anthers 4-5 mm opening by apical pores; reduced stamens 3 or 4.
Ovary puberulous, pruinose, sessile, ovules many (up to c. 58); style filiform; stigma small.
Seeds up to c. 50, shining, flattened, quadrangular, 7-8 by 5-8 mm.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa present), Guianas present
According to Irwin & Barneby (1982) native in the Guianas and perhaps in the Orinoco and Amazonean districts of Venezuela; now pantropical. In Java fully established by the middle of the 17th century.
Uses
Cultivated for medicine and ornament throughout the Malesian area. It is regarded a highly effective remedy against ringworm and various skin diseases; it is also used as a laxative. See
Notes
According to Verdcourt (1979) it is sometimes becoming a troublesome weed in pastures since the livestock will not eat it and a rapid spread can reduce the area available for grazing.
Citation
K. & S.S. Larsen 1980: p. 86. – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: pl. 15/1-2
Miq. 1855 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 93
Corner 1940: Wayside Trees: 388
K. & S.S. Larsen 1984: p. 108. – In: Fl. Thailand: f. 27/1-2
de Wit 1956 – In: Webbia: 231
Irwin & Barneby 1982 – In: Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard.: 460.
Backer & Bakh.f 1964 – In: Fl. Java: 540
Ho 1970: p. 823. – In: Illus. Fl. S. Vietnam, ed. 2: f. 2077
Rudd 1991 – In: Fl. Ceylon: 68.
Verdc. 1979 – In: Manual New Guinea Leg., Lae Bot. Bull.: 38